Heat in Buildings Bill consultation: equalities impact assessment

9. Stage 3: Review

9.1 Summarised key findings of this EQIA are included below.

• Have positive or negative impacts been identified for any of the equality groups?
  • This EQIA identified a range of potentially positive and negative impacts of the Heat in Buildings Bill Proposals and actions that will be undertaken to mitigate the negative impacts.
• Is the policy directly or indirectly discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010?
  • There is no evidence that the policy is directly or indirectly discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010.
• If the policy is indirectly discriminatory, how is it justified under the relevant legislation?
  • N/A
• If not justified, what mitigating action will be undertaken?
  • N/A

9.2 These impacts are considered against the Scottish Government’s Public Sector Equality Duty below, which requires authorities to have due regard to the following:

• eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010:
  • These proposals will have no impact.
• advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it;
  • There is a potential for impacts in regards to this aspect of the Public Sector Equality Duty, these impacts are discussed at length in the following section.
• foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.
  • These proposals have no impact.

9.3 Key findings have been that some people may experience negative impacts as a result of one or more protected characteristic. This has the potential to have negative results on the advancement of equality of opportunity between those who share certain protected characteristics and those who do not (as set out in the Scottish Government’s Public Sector Equality Duty). In particular these possible negative impacts centre around challenges with:

9.4 Age

• Cost (installation, upkeep and running costs of clean heating systems due to lower income levels); and
• Engagement (accessibility of advice and services, being informed, included and supported).

9.5 Disability

• Cost (installation, upkeep and running costs of clean heating systems due to lower income levels); and
• Engagement (accessibility of advice and services, being informed, included and supported).

9.6 Sex

• Cost (installation, upkeep and running costs of clean heating systems due to lower income levels).

9.7 Paternity and Maternity

• Cost (installation, upkeep and running costs of clean heating systems due to lower income levels).

9.8 Gender reassignment

• Cost (installation, upkeep and running costs of clean heating systems due to lower income levels).

9.9 Sexual orientation

• Cost (installation, upkeep and running costs of clean heating systems due to lower income levels).

9.10 Race

• Cost (installation, upkeep and running costs of clean heating systems due to lower income levels); and,
• Engagement (accessibility of advice and services, being informed, included and supported).

9.11 Religion or belief

• Cost (installation, upkeep and running costs of clean heating systems due to lower income levels); and,
• Engagement (accessibility of advice and services, being informed, included and supported).

9.12 Marriage and Civil Partnership

• None.